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There have never been more Canadians playing leading or key roles for their NCAA squads. While a select few have become household names in this country, many more have flown completely under the radar. Here’s a look at 10 of the Canucks to watch over the next couple of weeks:

THE GUYS YOU ALREADY KNOW

Andrew Wiggins

Kansas, G/F, Vaughan, Ont.

(17.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 steals, freshman)

Not only the most famous Canadian in the tourney, Wiggins is the most well-known player, period. He’s one of the most-hyped college athletes to come along in years. After a bit of a slow start, he has lived up to the expectations over the past month, even though star centre Joel Embiid has been sidelined for much of that time. At 6-foot-8, 200 pounds, Wiggins has great size, ridiculous athleticism and a developing game and outside touch. He seems to keep getting better and has always saved his best for statement games. Kansas could have a few of them. The team will go as far as Wiggins takes them. Then he’ll be either the first or second pick of the NBA draft.

Stauskas went from a one-dimensional three-point gunner (albeit a fantastic specialist) to a deserving national player of the year candidate. He got comfortable having the ball in his hands and creating for others, while still shooting even better from the field. He also improved at the defensive end. Stauskas has played a ton of minutes lately and his shooting has dipped, but he remains one of the deadliest offensive weapons in college basketball. Not to mention he’s fiercely determined to up his game in the tournament, after blaming himself for struggling at the Final Four. With a good showing, he could go in the NBA’s lottery.

Tyler Ennis

Syracuse, PG, Brampton

(12.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.1 steals, freshman)

Steady. Effective. Winner. All have been used to describe the remarkably composed freshman floor general. A born leader, Ennis took a Syracuse squad that had lost a lot of talent to the top of the polls for much of the season before a recent swoon. Ennis has one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the NCAA and collects more steals per game than turnovers (1.7). He hits massive shots (such as a mid-court buzzer beater earlier this season), doesn’t get rattled and could take his squad a long way thanks to his combination of skills and reliability. Ennis is desperate to get Syracuse out of its nosedive. He’s seen as a surefire lottery pick.

Melvin Ejim

Iowa State, F, Toronto

18.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals, senior

A rare four-year starter, Ejim has been a force from the jump for the Cyclones. He dominates on the boards, scores at will from inside and out (34.5% three-point shooter) and earned Big 12 Player of the Year honours ahead of players such as Wiggins and Embiid.

Ejim had 13 games of 20 points or more, including an NCAA season-best 48-point performance against TCU. Ejim didn’t just beat up on bad teams, though — he saved some of his best work for ranked opponents such as Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

He’s joined by fellow Torontonian Naz Long, an excellent outside shooter, on a team that many have picked as a darkhorse to go deep.

THE GUYS YOU ALSO SHOULD KNOW

Brady Heslip

Baylor, G, Burlington

(11.8 points, 1.3 rebounds, 47.3 three-point%, senior)

He’s now known as much more than Jay Triano’s nephew. On the short list of the NCAA’s top outside shooters, Heslip is a crucial weapon for the Bears. After starting for Canada at the FIBA Americas Tournament this summer, Heslip came back full of confidence and has turned in his best season. He’s nailed 10 threes over his past two games and could trade tres with Creighton scoring star Doug McDermott in the third round.

Kenny Chery

Baylor, PG, Montreal

(11.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 87.4 FT%, junior)

From junior college transfer to staring point guard, it’s been quite a year for Chery.

Like backcourt-mate Heslip, Chery has played for Canada in international competition.

He has been one of Baylor’s most important players and top scorers, while leading in assists as the top playmaker. A streaky shooter, Chery has had some huge scoring games in his first NCAA season.

Jordan Bachynski

Arizona State, C, Calgary

(11.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.1 blocks, senior)

The NCAA’s leader in blocked shots, Bachynski has improved greatly from afterthought to shut-down rim protector over his final two campaigns.

Now he’s got his No. 10 team thinking upset over No. 7 Texas. The Longhorns are great on the boards, but the 7-foot-2 Bachynski dwarfs the Texas front-court. To get by and possibly take on Stauskas and Michigan in the third round, the big man will have to come through.

Kevin Pangos

Gonzaga, PG, Holland Landing, Ont.

14.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 41.1 three-point%, junior

You’ve seen him in past tourneys, likely last year when he teamed up with Kelly Olynyk on a team that topped the NCAA for weeks. Olynyk might be gone, but the Bulldogs remain a good team. A lot of that is thanks to Pangos, who can fill it up from outside, while also creating for others.

He’s got a huge test in the opener in Oklahoma State superstar Marcus Smart. Gonzaga’s been playing great, but Smart is bigger, stronger and more athletic than Pangos.

Dwight Powell

Stanford F, Toronto

(14.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.8 blocks, senior)

The PAC-10 scholar-athlete of the year just doesn’t get work done with the books. He’s a potent scorer and a nifty passer for a big man. Powell’s turned up his game over his past three outings, averaging about 16 points a game on 63% shooting.

If the No. 10 seed can upset No. 7 New Mexico, Kansas and Wiggins should be on tap.

Thornhill’s Stefan Nastic joins Powell in the Cardinal frontcourt.

Powell is expected to be a second-round NBA selection.

Daniel Mullings

New Mexico State, G, Toronto

16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.9 steals, junior

The heart and soul of an Aggies squad that is Canuck-heavy (Sim Bhullar, Renaldo Dixon, plus associate head coach Paul Weir of Toronto). Mullings does a bit of everything and was a deserving choice as conference player of the year. Just getting into the tourney was a major achievement for the team and an upset over No. 4 San Diego State is a tall order. Count on Mullings to do his part in trying to provide a Cinderella moment, though.

He is considered a potential NBAer.

Sim Bhullar

New Mexico State, C, Toronto

(10.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, .647 FG%, sophomore)

At 7-foot-5, 355 pounds, it’s safe to say Bhullar is the biggest player in the tournament.

He ranked in the top five in blocked shots and will have to be game-planned around. Conditioning is no longer the issue it once was for the big man and Bhullar’s had two of his best three or four games this season in March. He blocked only one shot against Idaho in his most recent outing, just the fourth time that has happened this season and will be looking to swat a lot more against the Aztecs.

Jason Calliste

Oregon, G, Toronto

12.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, .508 three-point%, senior

The Ducks wouldn’t be 23-9 without Calliste’s shooting. He’s nailed more than half of his attempts in his senior season after hitting at a 40% clip at his former school.

Interestingly, Calliste scored 31 points, his season high, in a 100-96 win over BYU back in December. The two teams happen to square off to open the tourney and you can bet BYU will be paying quite a bit of attention to Calliste, who shot 13 free throws, making all of them, in the earlier meeting.

Nick Wiggins/Chadrack Lufile

Wichita State, G/F, Vaughan/Burlington

5.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 0.8 blocks Lufile, senior

5.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists Wiggins, senior

Rotation players a year ago when the Shockers went on a stunning run to the Final Four, the Canadian duo have been in the rotation again this time around as the school made it all the way to the tournament with an unbeaten record.

While the players mentioned above might have more of an impact, Lufile has been one of Wichita State’s best rebounders and Wiggins is relied on for his defence. Both have played their role in leading the Shockers to an undefeated season.

Wiggins, Stauskas headline strong Canadian content in March Madness

There have never been more Canadians playing leading or key roles for their NCAA squads. While a select few have become household names in this country, many more have flown completely under the radar. Here’s a look at 10 of the Canucks to watch over the next couple of weeks:

THE GUYS YOU ALREADY KNOW

Andrew Wiggins

Kansas, G/F, Vaughan, Ont.

(17.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 steals, freshman)

Not only the most famous Canadian in the tourney, Wiggins is the most well-known player, period. He’s one of the most-hyped college athletes to come along in years. After a bit of a slow start, he has lived up to the expectations over the past month, even though star centre Joel Embiid has been sidelined for much of that time. At 6-foot-8, 200 pounds, Wiggins has great size, ridiculous athleticism and a developing game and outside touch. He seems to keep getting better and has always saved his best for statement games. Kansas could have a few of them.